Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 27, 1994 TAG: 9404270040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Basham, a defensive tackle for Virginia Tech, and Virginia running back Jerrod Washington signed with the New England Patriots shortly after the two-day draft ended Monday.
Other Hokies signing free-agent deals were linebacker DeWayne Knight with Philadelphia, receiver Steve Sanders with Chicago and defensive lineman Jerome Preston, whose last Tech season was 1992, with New England. Preston, voted Tech's most valuable player in '92, had a free-agent tryout with the New York Giants in 1993.
More Tech and UVa players were working on deals Tuesday. Virginia cornerback Greg McClellan was trying to catch on with Dallas, and former Tech linebacker Marcus McClung was exploring opportunities in the Canadian Football League. Tech's P.J. Preston, who didn't play in 1993 because of an illness he has overcome, was contacted by several teams and hoped to sign a free-agent deal by today.
P.J. Preston, a Martinsville native and Jerome's cousin, said the Patriots, 49ers and Eagles contacted him. His size (6 feet 2, 223 pounds) and speed (he's been clocked in 4.39 seconds for the 40-yard dash) are the attractions.
"They want to know about last year and everything," said Preston, who tied for the team lead in tackles in 1992 with 89 and had six sacks. "I would like to get into somebody's camp, but if it doesn't happen, life's not over."
Washington, a 6-1, 209-pounder, became UVa's starter in '93, replacing Terry Kirby. He gained 983 yards for the Cavaliers.
Basham switched from end to tackle for his senior year and had 37 tackles and three sacks. The 6-6, 267-pounder finished his Tech career with 120 tackles and six sacks, but a different statistic may have had as much to do with the Patriots' interest.
Basham blocked four conversion tries and three field-goal attempts for the Hokies.
"If you see a guy that's 6-5 and can jump a little bit and can play other positions, I think that played a major part," Basham said.
Basham said Tech cornerback Tyronne Drakeford, a second-round draft choice by San Francisco, called him and Knight each time pro scouts were on campus to work out Drakeford. Basham said that gave them a chance to make an impression.
Basham said the Patriots' defensive line coach, Lynchburg native Romeo Crennel, was pushing for the Pats to draft Basham in the seventh and last round. They didn't, but Basham said Crennel called him five minutes after the draft ended to offer him a free-agent deal. The Pats plan to try Basham at end.
Basham walked on to Tech's basketball team during the 1991 season, but gave up the sport and stayed with football. With the Patriots, he has a role model: former Tech soccer, basketball and football player Ray Crittenden, who had little impact on Tech's football team but contributed to New England as a rookie last year.
"When Ray was here . . . he couldn't catch the ball very well," Basham said. "He just proved everybody wrong. Hopefully, I can do the same thing."
Knight, a 6-3, 207-pound senior from Newport News, didn't start until his senior year but had 77 tackles (four behind the line of scrimmage) and four sacks in Tech's 9-3 season. He expects to be tried as a safety with Philadelphia - he hopes at strong safety, which incorporates many of the "Whip" linebacker responsibilities in Tech's scheme.
"Last year at this time, I didn't think I had any chance at the NFL at all," Knight said. "I'll just take advantage of an opportunity."
by CNB